Deferred-action battery diaphragm-rupturing device



C. M. GOLD May 12, 1964 DEFERRED-ACTION BATTERY DIAPHRAGM-RUPTURINGDEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1960 u ml INVENTOR. CHARLES M. GOLD AGENT UnitedStates Patent 3,132,974 DEFERRED-ACTION BATTERY DKAPGM- RUPTURiNG DEVICECharles M. Gold, Franklin Square, N.Y., assignor to YardneyInternational Corp, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan.26, 1969, Ser. No. 4,896 Claims. (Cl. 136-90) The present inventionrelates to a device for rupturing a diaphragm for the purpose ofenabling the passage of a fluid, especially a liquid, through aninitially sealed duct. Such devices are used, for example, in areserve-type or deferred-action electric battery in which one or moreelectrochemical cells in the dry-charged state are activated, inresponse to a predetermined signal, by the transfer of electrolyteliquor from a storage container to the housing of each cell.

Heretofore, diaphragms for the purpose set forth have generally beenmade of easily frangible material, such as a plastic or ceramicsubstance, adapted to be ruptured or shattered on contact with a pointedor even a blunt piercing member. A disadvantage of such systems is that,notwithstanding the provision of various safeguards, pre matureactivation sometimes occurs on account of ac celeration, impact orvibration whereby the diaphragm is urged against the piercing member, orvice versa, with sufiicient force to cause rupture of the former by thelatter.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved combination of diaphragm and piercing device which affords thenecessary safeguards against undesired activation of such device.

A more specific object ofthis invention is to provide means for quicklyand effectively rupturing, in response to a predetermined signal, asheet-metal diaphragm barring the flow of a fluid such as, for example,a liquid electrolyte.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a piercing device ofthe character referred to which can be readily activated by a mechanismadapted to perform a concurrent operation in response to the samesignal, such as the release of a charge of compressed gas serving toexert pressure upon the liquid to be driven past the ruptured diaphragm.

The invention resides, according to one of its aspects, in thepositioning of a generally triangular cutter, having a knife point atthe acute apex of the triangle, adjacent a metallic diaphragm, incombination with means for pivoting the triangle about its base in asense driving the knife point into the diaphragm whereby the latter iscut open by an action comparable to that of a can opener upon the flatend of a tin can.

In accordance with a more specific feature of the invention, thegenerally triangular cutter forms one arm of a bell-crank lever whoseother arm is disposed adjacent an operating member poised to exert uponthis latter arm, in response to an activating signal, sufiicientpressure to swing the bell-crank lever about its pivot in adiaphragm-piercing sense. The operating member may be a piston adaptedto be driven toward the adjacent lever arm by, for example, thedetonation of an explosive charge.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in longitudinal section, an activator for a dry-chargedelectric battery, the activator incorporating a diaphragm-piercingmechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows parts of the diaphragm-piercing mechanism in perspectiveview; and

FIG. 3 shows, again in perspective view, another part ice of theactivator adapted to be operated simultaneously with thediaphragm-piercing mechanism.

The activator shown in the drawing comprises a cylindrical container 1%)for a liquid electrolyte, e.g. a concentrated aqueous solution ofpotassium hydroxide, this container having a large outlet 11 initiallyblocked by a metallic diaphragm 12. A shield 13, in the form of aperforated cap, overlies the outlet 11 on the inside of the container.This outlet leads to a chamber 14 Within which a bell-crank lever 15,consisting of two arms 15a and 15b, is pivotable about a transverse pin16. Arm 15a rests horizontally on a safety stud 17 which prevents thecutter 15 from striking the diaphragm and weakening it beforeactivation; the slightly curved arm 15b depends approximately verticallyadjacent diaphragm 12 and is of generally triangular configuration, thebase of the triangle being in the vicinity of pin 16 while its apex,forming a knife point 15c, is turned toward the diaphragm. It will benoted that the height of the triangle, as measured between point 15c andpin 16, is substantially less than the spacing of the pin from diaphragm12.

The container it is further provided, opposite outlet ll, with agas-inlet tube 13 terminating in a nipple H which is initially sealed bya tubulation 20 having a constricted neck 29. A bail 21 of spring wire,biased for counter-clockwise rotation as viewed in FIG. 1, is woundabout a pin 22 which bridges a pair of brackets 23a, 23b, on asupporting plate 24. This plates carries a pair of terminal posts 25a,25b which are connected by a pair of conductors 26a, 26b across a sourceof current 27 (here shown diagrammatically as a battery) via a normallyopen switch 28. A fusible wire 29 is tied electrically and mechanicallyto the posts 25a, 25b and is stretched in a loop around a lug 30' of adetent element 30 which is pivotable about a pin 31 and has a shoulder30 engaging the bail 21 to latch it in its illustrated position. Tube 18extends from a cartridge 32 containing a compressed gas.

The elements supported on plate 24 and illustrated in FIG. 3, formingpart of a gas-release mechanism, are enclosed within a shell 33 providedwith a gas passage 33. A bladder 34, clamped between plate 24 and a Wallof container 10, surrounds the shell 33 and extends longitudinallywithin the container toward the outlet 11 thereof. This bladder,originally deflated, is inflatable by the pressure of gas from cartridge32, after the activation of the release mechanism in a manner to bedescribed, to exert pressure upon the surrounding electrolyte liquid andto force it outwardly through the simultaneously unblocked outlet 11.

Chamber 14 is provided at one end with a discharge tube 35 for theelectrolyte, leading to the cells of a drychargedelectric battery notshown. Opposite tube 35, a plug .36 extends into chamber 14; this plughouses a slidable piston 37, bearing upon the lever arm 15a, and a squib38 whose explosive charge is adapted to be set oil by battery 27 viaconductors 26a, 26b upon closure of switch 23.

In operation, the activator shown in the drawing is connected by itsdischarge tube 35 to the battery to be served thereby. When, thereafter,the switch 28 is closed, current from source 27 detonates'the charge ofsquib 38 to drive the piston 37 downwardly; this action causes thesafety stud, which may be of soft metal such as copper to yield(dot-dash lines, FIG. 1) as the lever 15 swings counterclockwise aboutits pivot 16 so that point 15c slits the diaphragm 12 from the bottomup. At the same time the current flowing through conductors26a, 26bmelts the wire 29, thus releasing the detent 30 and unblocking thenipple 19 so that gas from cartridge 32 streams through tube 18 intobladder 34 to inflate it. The

- pressure of the bladder upon the electrolyte in container in variousmodifications and adaptations Without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A deferred-action battery, comprising a cell casing, electrodesdisposed in said casing, and electrolyte-supply means for feedingelectrolyte into said casing and contact with said electrodes, saidelectrolyte-supply means including a housing forming an electrolytechamber having an outlet; a substantially inflexible but incisable,generally planar diaphragm closing said outlet below the level ofelectrolyte in said chamber, said housing being formed with acompartment externally of said chamber communicating with said casing; acutter pivotally mounted in said compartment adjacent said diaphragm forangular displacement about an axis generally parallel thereto, saidcutter having a penetrating edge adapted to perforate said inflexiblediaphragm upon forcible displacement in a predetermined sense about saidaxis; plunger means in said compartment engageable with said cutter fordisplacing it in said sense; precipitously triggerable actuating meansfor driving said plunger into engagement with said plunger means andsaid cutter into incising engagement with said diaphragm to release saidelectrolyte from said chamber; and pressure means establishing apressure differential across said outlet for forcing saidelectrolyte outof said chamber through the incised diaphragm with operation of saidactuating means.

2. A deferred-action battery, comprising a cellcasing, electrodesdisposed in said casing, and electrolyte-supply means for feedingelectrolyte into said casing and contact with .said electrodes, saidelectrolyte-supply means including a housing forming an electrolytechamber having an outlet; a substantially iidiexible but incisable,gener ally planar sheet-metal diaphragm closing said outlet below thelevel of electrolyte in said chamber, said'hous ing being formed with acompartment externally of said chamber communicating with said casing; acutter pivotally mounted in said compartment adjacent said diaphragm forangular displacement about an axis gener ally parallel thereto, saidcutter having a penetrating edge adapted to perforate said inflexiblesheet-metal diaphragm upon forcible displacement in a predeterminedsense about said axis but normally restrained from displacement in saidsense; plunger means in said compartment engageable with said cutter fordisplacing it in said sense; precipitously triggerableactuating meansfor driving said plunger into engagement with said plunger means andsaid cutter into incising engagement with said sheet-metal diaphragm torelease said electrolyte from said chamber; and pressure meansestablishing a pressure differential across said outlet for forcing saidelectrolyte out of said chamber through the incised sheet-metaldiaphragm with operation of said actuating means.

3. A deferred-action battery, comprising a cell casing, electrodesdisposed in said casing, and electrolyte supply means for feedingelectrolyte into said casing and contact with said electrodes, saidelectrolyte-supply means including a housing forming an elongatedelectrolyte,

chamber having an outlet at one end; a substantially inflexible butincisable, generally planar diaphragm closing said outlet below thelevel of electrolyte in said chamber, said housing being formed with acompartment externally of said chamber communicating with said casing; acutter pivotally mounted in said compartment adjacent said diaphragm forangular displacement about an axis generally parallel thereto, saidcutting having a penetrating edge adapted to perforate said inflexiblediaphragm upon forcible displacement in a predetermined sense about saidaxis but normally restrained from displacement in said sense; plungermeans in said compartment engageable with said cutter for displacing itin said sense; plunger means in saidcompartment engageable with saidcutter for displacing it in said sense; precipitously triggerableactuating means for driving said plunegr into engagement with saidplunger means and said cutter into incising engagement with saiddiaphragm to release said electrolyte from said chamber; and pressuremeans establising a pressure differential across said outlet for forcingsaid electrolyte out of said chamber through the incised diaphragm withoperation of said actuating means, said pressure means including aninflatable bladder in said chamber, an inlet for a pressure fluid at anend of said chamber remote from said outlet communicating With saidbladder, a source of pressure fluid supplying said inlet, normallyclosed valve means in said chamber at said inlet for blocking the supplyof said presstue fluid from said source to said bladder prior tooperation of said actuating means, and means for opening said valvemeans upon operation of said actuating means. i

4. A deferred-action battery, comprising a cell casing, electrodesdisposed in said casing, and electrolyte-supply means for. feedingelectrolyte into said casing and contact with said electrodes, saidelectrolyte-supply means including a housing forming an elongatedelectrolyte chamher having an outlet at one end; a substantiallyinflexible butincisable, generally planar sheet-metal diaphragm closingsaid outlet below the level of electrolyte in said chamher, said housingbeing formed with a compartment externally of said chamber communicatingwith said casing; a cutter pivotally mounted in said compartmentadjacent said diaphragm for angular displacement about an axis generallyparallel thereto, said cutter having a penetrating edge adapted toperforate said inflexible sheet-metal diaphragm upon forcibledisplacement in a predetermined sense about said axis but'normallyrestrained from displacement in said sense; plunger means in saidcompartment engageable with said cutter for displacing it in said sense;precipitously triggerable actuating means for driving said plunger intoengagement with said plunger means and said cutter into incisingengagement With said sheetmetal diaphragm to release said electrolytefrom said chamber; and pressure means establishing a pressuredifferential across said outlet forforcing said electrolyte out of saidchamber through the incised sheetmetal diaphragm with operation of saidactuating means, said pressure means including an inflatable bladder insaid chamber, an inlet for a pressure fluid at an end of said chamberremote from said outlet communicating with.

said bladder, a source of pressure fluid supplying said inlet, normallyclosed valve means in said chamber at said inlet for blocking the supplyof said pressure fluid from said source to said bladder prior tooperation of said actuating means, and means for opening said valvemeans upon operation of said actuating means.

5. A deferred-action battery, comprising a cell casing, electrodesdisposed in said casing, and electrolyte-supply means for feedingelectrolyte into said casing and contact with said electrodes, saidelectrolyte supply means including a housing forming an elongatedelectrolyte chamber having an outlet at one end; a substantiallyinflexible but incisable, generally planar sheet-metal diaphragm closingsaid outlet below the level of electro lyte in said chamber, saidhousing being formed with a compartment externally of said chambercommunicating with said casing; acutter pivotally mounted in saidcompartment adjacent said diaphragm for angular displacement about anaxis generally parallel thereto, said cutter having a penetrating edgeadapted to perforate said inflexible sheet-metal diaphragm upon forcibledisplacement in a predetermined sense aboutsaid axis but normallyrestrained from displacement in said sense; plunger means in saidcompartment engageable with said cutter for displacing it in said sense;precipitously triggerable actuating means including an explosive squibcooperating with said plunger for driving it into engagement with saidplunger means and said cutter into incising engagement With saidsheet-metal diaphragm to release said electrolyte from said chamber; andpressure means establishing a pressure differential across said outletfor forcing said electrolyte out of said chamber through the incisedsheet-metal diaphragm with operation of said actuating means, saidpressure means includ: ing an inflatable bladder in said chamber, aninlet for a pressure fluid at an end of said chamber remote from saidoutlet communicating With said bladder, a source of pressure fluidsupplying said inlet, normally closed valve means in said chamber atsaid inlet for blocking the supply of said pressure fluid from saidsource to said bladder prior to operation of said actuating means, and

means for operating said valve means upon operation of said actuatingmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,108,714 Davis Aug. 25, 1914 1,886,805 Hagebuseh Nov. 8, 1932 1,997,888Sexton Apr. 16, 1935 2,179,588 Dennison Nov. 14, 1936 2,322,808Hothersall June 29, 194-3 2,603,385 Toth July 15, 1952 2,603,857 HanbyJuly 22, 1952 2,788,917 Cool Apr. 16, 1957 2,896,067 Lockwood July 21,1959 2,937,220 Bauman May 17, 1960 2,963,533 Gold et a1. Dec. 6, 1960FOREIGN PATENTS 1,126,430 France Nov. 22, 1956

1. A DEFERRED-ACTION BATTERY, COMPRISING A CELL CASING, ELECTRODESDISPOSED IN SAID CASING, AND ELECTROLYTE-SUPPLY MEANS FOR FEEDINGELECTROLYTE INTO SAID CASING AND CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTRODES, SAIDELECTROLYTE-SUPPLY MEANS INCLUDING A HOUSING FORMING AN ELECTROLYTECHAMBER HAVING AN OUTLET; A SUBSTANTIALLY INFLEXIBLE BUT INCISABLE,GENERALLY PLANAR DIAPHRAGM CLOSING SAID OUTLET BELOW THE LEVEL OFELECTROLYTE IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID HOUSING BEIG FORMED WITH A COMPARTMENTEXTERNALLY OF SAID CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CASING; A CUTTERPIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID COMPARTMENT ADJACENT SAID DIAPHRAGM FORANGULAR DISPLACEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL THERETO, SAIDCUTTER HAVING A PENETRATING EDGE ADAPTED TO PERFORATE SAID INFLEXIBLEDIAPHRAGM UPON FORCIBLE DISPLACEMENT IN